Golfers wrap-up 2011 at Verde Santa Fe

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Knowing full well they had no chance for a state berth, the Marauders still played well until the end, finishing third overall at the second annual John Uidenich Memorial Invitational on Friday, Oct. 21.

In the last high school match of his career, senior J.C. Lawler finished on a high note, taking first overall individually with an even par 71 performance Friday at Verde Santa Fe Golf Course.

“That’s pretty cool. He won the last high school tournament of his career,” Mingus Union High School golf Head Coach Craig Mai said.

Bradshaw Mountain High School product Tyler Inglehart finished second overall with a 75 [+4] while Drew Fockler of Coconino High School tied him for second with a 75.

Blair Walsh, of Prescott High School, took fourth with a 5-over-par 76, but his Badgers took home the team prize with a 323 [+39], good enough for first overall.

Nik Hubbard, of Flagstaff High School, rounded out the top five with a 6-over-par 77 performance.

Behind the Badgers for top team scores was Flagstaff, which had a 323 [+39] to tie for first place. The Eagles got second because Josh Lovett, who is the fifth golfer for Flagstaff, recorded an 86 [+15] during the 18-hole event while Prescott’s Drake Parker shot an 85.

Top performances for Mingus behind Lawler included sophomore Ryan Sullivan, who shot an 85 [+14], while sophomore Gary Baker struggled with a 15-over-par 86. Junior Tanner Wing wrapped up the top four for the Marauders with an 86 [+15].

“Gary [Baker] didn’t have his usual round,” a disappointed Mai said. “It was probably his worst of the year. If he even plays his average we probably win the tournament.”

Sophomore Baker has bright days ahead of him according to Mai, but the coach hopes the Arizona Interscholastic Association does something about the qualifying standards soon.

“It’s a ridiculous standard. You basically have to be a scratch golfer to qualify for state. This is high school. It’s too much pressure,” Mai said.

Golfers must record five scores two strokes or under the course rating that they play at to qualify for the Division II State Championships.